Chicago, Il., -- After inclement weather threatened the possibility of a match this morning, the skies cleared up for what turned into a beautiful afternoon for the Vikings (2-3, 0-0) to host the Auggies of Augsburg University (2-2, 0-0).
The Auggies corralled the ball for the first fifteen minutes of the match, not allowing much the Vikings much wiggle room when the ball did come into their possession. However, North Park settled in adjusting to Augsburg's aggressive style of play, stringing together some possessions on the Auggie side of the field. One of those resulting in a free kick from just outside the left corner of the box where senior forward Olivia Cox sent in the first score of the match giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.
Following the Cox goal, it was back to being an Augsburg dominated first half – they totaled 13 shots with 4 on goal to the Vikings' 3 shot total. The Auggies had a real chance to tie the match in the 42nd minute when forward Jayla Ponce had a breakaway shot that was blocked by Vikings keeper Paige MacRitchie. After MacRitchie blocked it, Ponce had a wide-open rebound shot that went in, but she was penalized for a handball just before the shot, keeping the score 1-0 going into halftime.
Augsburg's aggression paid off in the second half when Ponce found Allison Hookom for the game tying shot from about 20 yards out that found the top left corner over the outstretched hand of MacRitchie. MacRitchie still walked away with four big saves for the Vikings which proved costly down the stretch. With the clock winding down and the game inching towards a tie finish, the 87th minute saw junior midfielder Maja Applequist send in the game winning goal off the Auggies' keeper, when she took advantage of a shot sent in by Caroline Sjøstedt that fell right into her lap. The Vikings walked away victorious 2-1.
North Park, now 3-3 on the season, host #11 University of Chicago on Wednesday, September 17th at 7pm.
